The jury highlighted that ‘the Quinta das Águas project is the one that best meets the evaluation criteria, given its construction rigour, quality of materials and consistency of architectural language, without overshadowing the existing building’.

The refurbishment of the 19th-century property was carried out through the complete restoration of the single-storey house and tower, the service garage and the construction of a new summer pavilion, with the aim of enhancing the existing heritage, improving comfort and strengthening the relationship between architecture, light and landscape, restoring the familiar identity of the place.

The space now has large social areas on the ground floor, several suites distributed throughout the main house and tower, a living room, dining room, kitchen, storage rooms, laundry room, garage, as well as leisure areas such as a cinema room, poolside changing rooms, technical areas and a transparent pavilion facing the water mirrors.

The award ceremony, which aims to recognise the quality of heritage restoration projects in the municipality, is scheduled for Monday, 15 December, at 6 pm, at the Town Hall, and will be attended by the Mayor, Mário Passos.

The Januário Godinho Award is given by a jury chaired by the Department of Urban Planning and Management and made up of a representative or designated member of the Culture and Tourism Division of the Vila Nova de Famalicão City Council (DCT); the Northern Regional Section of the Portuguese Architects' Association (OA); the Order of Engineers, Northern Region (OE); the Northern Regional Directorate for Culture (DRCN); the Portuguese Association for Urban Rehabilitation and Heritage Protection (APRUPP) and Lusíada University - North, Vila Nova de Famalicão Campus - Faculty of Architecture and Arts.

It should be noted that the Januário Godinho Award was created in 2017 and aims to promote the safeguarding and enhancement of built heritage and to give visibility to good practices in urban rehabilitation. This year's award reinforces the municipality's commitment to interventions that preserve the architectural identity of Famalicão, in line with the legacy of Januário Godinho, a notable architect in the history of Vila Nova de Famalicão and designer of the Town Hall.